Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
April,  1881.  i 
Solubility  of  Alkaloids. 
149 
Results  of  various  specific  gravities  of  potassii  nitras,  1*953,  2*001, 
•.2-115,  2-081,  2-248,  2-176,  2-207,  2*47.  Crystals,  after  being  mace- 
rated in  strong  alcohol,  dried  and  specific  gravity  again  taken,  give 
2-218,  2-809,  2-559 ;  the  results  of  other  investigators  are  2*11  Kopp, 
2.1006  Karsten,  2*100  Schifi;  2*086  Schroder.  The  specific  gravity  of 
different  crystals  of  potassium  bromide  was  determined  as  follows : 
1-795,  1*973,  2*008,  2*258,  2*36  and  2*377. 
THE  SOLUBILITIES  OF  ALKALOIDS  IN  ALCOHOL. 
By  Albert  Henry  Lafean,  Ph.G. 
From  an  Inaugural  Essay. 
On  several  occasions  having  been  called  upon  to  make  alcoholic 
solutions  of  the  alkaloids,  and,  upon  consulting  the  different  text- 
books, finding  the  statements  differing  very  much,  it  was  thought  a 
^useful  subject  of  investigation  to  determine  the  solubilities  from  actual 
experiments.  In  most  cases  alcohols  of  different  strengths  and  various 
temperatures  were  employed  for  the  solubilities  as  given  in  text-books. 
Besides  this  the  article  is  frequently  merely  stated  to  be  "  very "  or 
"  slightly soluble. 
The  authorities  which  were  consulted  were  the  United  States  Dis- 
pensatory, the  National  Dispensatory,  and  Storer's  Dictionary  of 
•Chemical  Solubilities,"  and  below  is  given  a  list  of  the  alkaloids 
.selected  for  the  experiments,  with  a  table  showing  their  solubility  in 
alcohol  of  usual  strength,  as  determined  by  the  writer,  and  as  given 
by  text-books. 
The  method  of  ascertaining  the  solubility  of  the  alkaloid  was  to 
place  a  given  quantity  in  a  somewhat  less  quantity  of  alcohol  than 
that  recommended  bv  the  text-books  or  authorities,  contained  in  an 
.accurately  graduated  tube,  and  at  ten  degrees  higher  temperature  than 
.the  standard  temperature  selected  (60°F.).  The  alkaloid  was  digested 
for  several  hours,  with  occasional  agitation,  and  if  the  quantity  of 
alcohol  was  insufficient  an  addition  was  carefully  made  until  solution 
was  effected  at  this  slightly  higher  temperature.  If  an  excess  of  alco- 
hol happened  to  be  added  the  tube  was  left  unstopped,  to  permit  evap- 
•oration,  for  a  few  hours,  until  a  slight  deposition  took  place.  If  this 
failed  to  be  dissolved  at  a  slightly  elevated  temperature,  a  very  small 
-quantity  of  alcohol  was  added,  sufficient  to  take  up  the  slight  excess, 
and  the  solution  was  then  brought  to  the  proper  temperature,  60°F. 
